Most people never give a second thought to the purity of the water that they drink as long as it’s clear. With what we know today about the many contaminants that are found in drinking water that may not be a good thing. Especially since many now believe that drinking healthy water plays an important role in promoting good mental and physical health. With that in mind, here are 5 reasons why healthy drinking water is so important to your mental and physical well-being.
1. A Healthy Water Intake Has Been Shown to Impact Health
It’s a well-known fact that there are not many things that benefit your physical and mental health better than drinking the right amount of water each day. But can you improve upon this by drinking healthy water? A World Health Organization webpage had this to say on the polar opposite effects of drinking healthy versus unhealthy water; “Water has a profound effect on human health both as a means to reduce disease and a media through which disease-causing agents may be transmitted”. When translated, this means drinking healthy water plays an important role in avoiding unwanted physical and mental health issues and drinking unhealthy water increases your risk of getting them.
2. Unhealthy Drinking Water Can Lead to Illness
Without a doubt there are many pathogens found in water that you don’t want to take into your body. That’s because many of these unwanted waterborne organisms can make you severely ill or even kill you if they are allowed to build up in your system. The CDC has put out detailed information on the most commonly found pathogens in water that often cause illness. None of these potentially disease-causing microorganisms are anything that you want to mess around with. They include Cryptosporidium, E. coli O157, Enterovirus, Salmonella, and Hepatitis A. Drinking healthy water can help you avoid the mental and physical ailments that these pathogens can cause.
3. Dehydration Can Impact Mood
An important factor in maintaining good mental health is being able to maintain a positive mood. Healthy water can play an important role in that by keeping you better hydrated. One study that was done suggests that dehydration may negatively impact your mood. It’s a study that can be found in ‘The Journal of Nutrition’. This study concluded that there is a highly probable correlation between dehydration and negative moods. This includes degraded moods, headaches, more difficulty doing routine tasks, and lower concentration levels. Your mood is a direct link to your mental health which is why healthy water can play a role.
4. People Who Drink Water Instead of Soda or Other Beverages are Generally Healthier
According to an article from the Mayo Clinic, men should drink about 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of fluids per day and for women it’s only slightly less at 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) liters per day.
Why should all or the majority of this fluid intake be healthy water?
Let’s say for example that part of your daily fluid intake is two sodas per day. Over the course of a month, you will have added 5 pounds of sugar and some 9000 calories to your diet. By avoiding those sodas and replacing them with zero calorie healthy water, you will be doing your body and mind a big favor.
5. Drinking Enough Healthy Water Improves Physical Function
There are some other schools of thought on drinking healthy water that are worth considering too. One of those is that drinking water that has been filtered can improve physical function.
An article on the Australian government-run website ‘healthdirect’ mentions that water makes up somewhere between 50% to 80% of the human body. That’s why all the body’s important chemical processes take place in water. This leads to such things as the body producing sweat to cool it, lubricating joints so we can move more easily, and even thinning the blood so it can better distribute oxygen throughout the body.
It only makes sense that the healthier the water is that you drink, the better chance you have of that water improving your physical function.
Conclusion
Whether you consider some of the studies mentioned above or listen to various opinions on why drinking healthy water is better for you, seeking out healthier water sources for you to drink is something that is surely worth considering for your mental and physical health.
Healthy drinking water has the potential to make a big impact on your life and lessen the risks associated with drinking water that’s filled with contaminants.
So, take it upon yourself to learn more about water filtration so you can enjoy the benefits that healthy water has on your mental and physical health.